Little Patuxent River Half Marathon
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Event overview
The Little Patuxent River Half Marathon & 10K is a trail race weekend in Columbia, Maryland on Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2026. Races start and finish at the Guilford Pratt Truss Bridge on Guilford Road and use the Patuxent and Wincopin trails along the Little Patuxent and Middle Patuxent River. Distances offered:
- Half Marathon - 13.1 miles
- 10K - 6.55 miles
- 5K - 3.1 miles
Registration includes one long sleeve shirt and up to three finisher medals for participants who complete combined options (5K + 10K or 5K + Half Marathon). The 5K has a separate capacity of 250 runners; the 10K and Half Marathon share a combined capacity of 1,000 runners.
Course, format and logistics
The course is a loop along the Patuxent and Wincopin Trails. About 3 miles are packed gravel and about 3 miles are natural surface trail; a small portion is paved or sidewalk. The half marathon is the 10K loop run twice. There are no water stations on the 5K; the 6.55-mile loop has two water stations located near mile 1.5 and mile 6. Runners must be at least 14 years old for the half marathon and at least 7 years old for the 5K and 10K.
Start formats aim to reduce passing: the 5K uses a time trial start with individual spacing, and the 10K and half marathon use paced wave starts based on declared pace. Pets, strollers, bicycles, in-line skates and other non-official wheeled vehicles are prohibited. Packet pick up is available at the race venue on the event weekend and requires photo ID. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.